Loki couldn't remember the last time he had asked a woman to call him by his name.

The formality of his title had always been an excellent way to shield himself, to remain distant and aloof - to keep from getting too close to someone. He had taken women to bed who never had the privilege of calling him anything other than Your Highness.

So he had surprised himself when he asked Sigyn to call him Loki. He had desperately wanted to hear it from her lips, and it had sounded just as lovely as he thought it would. Just watching her sound it out, her pink tongue touching her upper teeth to pronounce the first syllable, excited him.

He wanted her to say it over and over, to whisper it in his ear, to scream it to the heavens until she was breathless.

Patience, he thought to himself. All in good time.

He asked if Sigyn had liked the meal, and she admitted that she had barely eaten.

"I confess, I have been nervous all day," she said. "Ever since you spoke to me this morning. Ever since you said you wanted to get to know me more...intimately."

The last word was barely a whisper, and Sigyn flushed bright red from her hair to the neckline of her gown.

"There's no need to be nervous, Sigyn," he said, thrilled with the reactions he brought forth from her. "Tonight, I merely wish to talk."

"In all honesty, it's difficult to relax. You look so…regal," she said, indicating the armor he wore. "You're a bit intimidating."

"Here, maybe this will help."

He stepped back from her, holding his arms loosely at his sides. Starting at the center of his chest and spreading out, his metal armor began to shimmer and disappear from his body. After a moment, he was left with just his black underclothing, with a long black overcoat taking the place of his cape.

"Now this is much better," he said. "My armor may look menacing, but it certainly isn't made for comfort. Perhaps we can both relax a bit more now."

She stared at him, agape. "How did you do that?"

"It's difficult to explain," he said. "Besides, a good sorcerer never gives up his secrets."

"And do you have a lot of secrets, Loki?"

"Doesn't everyone?"

Sigyn laughed. "Fair enough."

They came to a trellis, heavy with blossoms, with a bench beneath it. Loki sat, resting one elbow on the back of the bench, one leg crossed at the ankle over the other.

"I must admit you have me at a slight disadvantage," he said, as Sigyn settled in next to him. "You know much about me, and yet I know so little about you."

"What do you wish to know?" asked Sigyn. "I can't imagine what you would find fascinating about my life."

"Everything," said Loki. "Every detail about you, no matter how small." He smiled at her. "Start with your family."

She told him about her brother and her parents. Their happy marriage, her content childhood. How all of that had changed when her father died.

"I remember that incident," said Loki, taking her hand in his. "I am embarrassed to admit, sometimes up here, in this palace…it's easy to forget the families who are affected by events such as those."

It still hurt for Sigyn to think about her father too much, even after so long. She felt a tear gathering at the edge of her eye, and she reached up to brush it away.

"I had hoped to follow in my father's footsteps one day, to become a diplomat as he was." She shook her head. "But after his death, my mother was adamant that I work towards an appointment here in the palace instead, insisting it was safe. I'm not so sure she was correct."

"What do you mean?" asked Loki, his brow furrowed. "Surely you feel no danger as my mother's handmaiden."

"Had I not been appointed to your mother, in all likelihood we would never have met, Loki," she said. "You...you make me feel vulnerable."

"I mean you no harm, Sigyn," he said. "I am very fond of you." He placed his hand on her knee.

She placed her hand over his, enjoying the warmth of his skin. "But, why me? Surely there are countless other women vying for your company."

"Not as many as you might think," said Loki, shaking his head. "I may be a prince, but I am only the second son, second in line to the throne. Second best to so many."

"Not to me," said Sigyn, lowering her eyes.

He pulled his hand back, placing it under her chin to raise her eyes to his. "You make me believe that. That is why I wanted to get to know you better," said Loki. "Your curiosity, your intelligence, your vibrancy…"

For a moment, he looked as if he wanted to say more; however, he stood abruptly instead, holding his hand out to her.

"Come with me. I want to show you something."

She took his hand without hesitation, and Loki led her through the palace, up a back staircase to a vast terrace overlooking the expanse of Asgard.

"It's so beautiful up here," said Sigyn, leaning onto the railing and looking out over the expanse of Asgard. From their vantage point, Sigyn could see the Bifröst as stretched out to the horizon, the glitter of its surface perfectly mirroring that of the sky. A slight breeze ran across her skin, causing her to shiver.

"Here," said Loki. "Let me warm you."

He moved his hand sharply to one side, and a woolen shawl appeared in his grasp, created right out of the very air around him. He placed it on her shoulders, pulling it up around her neck. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you," said Sigyn, snuggling into the fabric. "I don't think your talents will ever cease to amaze me."

"Oh, you have yet to be apprised of all my talents," said Loki, grinning at her. "Conjuring a shawl is the least of my abilities."

Sigyn swallowed hard, imagining what other abilities he might have and when he might share them with her. She decided to change the subject. "Do you spend a lot of time up here?"

"I enjoy studying here on occasion," said Loki. "It gives me open space where I can practice certain spells in relative privacy."

"Certain spells?"

"Here," said Loki. "Let me show you."

He walked to the edge of the terrace, facing the side wall. He stopped there, raising his hands in front of his chest, palms out, and drawing them slowly apart.

Directly in front of him appeared a large rectangular box, taller and wider than him, shimmering a ghostly green before becoming solid.

"That is impressive," said Sigyn. "But...what does it do?"

"It catches things."

Sigyn tilted her head, puzzled.

"Just watch," said Loki. He strode the length of the terrace to the opposite wall. "Please, though, do stay where you are. I don't want you to get hurt."

Her curiosity piqued, Sigyn nodded her head, pushing her body against the railing tightly.

Loki, still facing away from the box, cupped his hands together at his chest. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused. Immediately, his hands began to glow a faint blue.

Setting his shoulders, he swiftly turned on his heels, graceful as a dancer, the tails of his overcoat fanning out from his body. His right hand pitched sharply forward, three knives flying from his fingertips and embedding themselves in the large box with a hollow thud.

Sigyn's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Loki turned to her, pleased at her reaction. "You can see why I might need open spaces for that particular spell." He walked back to the box, reversing his movements from earlier to make it disappear, knives still in its surface, before rejoining Sigyn at the railing.

"That was astonishing," said Sigyn. "How do you make it look so easy?"

"I know it sounds trite, but lots of practice," said Loki. "In battle, Thor tends to be more bold and rash, right in the thick of things. I like my fighting style to be a bit more…understated. More distant."

"Do you find yourself in battle often?" Sigyn asked. The thought of him being in physical danger had never crossed her mind, and it frightened her.

"Fortunately, our realm has known peace for quite some time," said Loki, his tone reassuring. "The only fighting I have experienced recently is in the training rooms with Thor."

"That's a relief," she said, sighing.

"Not necessarily," said Loki. "He gives me no quarter in training. I have learned to become quite skilled at defending myself."

Sigyn could only imagine what the two of them sparring might look like, when she began to hear faint music. Glancing over the railing, she could see that the remaining revelers from the celebration had spilled out into the courtyard below them.

Loki stepped away from the railing, bowing at the waist and holding his hand out to her with a flourish. "Might I have the pleasure of this dance?"

"Why Loki, I would be honored," she replied with an exaggerated curtsy, before taking his hand. He pulled her in close, keeping one hand in hers while his other hand went to her waist.

Sigyn placed her free hand on his shoulder, letting him take the lead as they spun around the terrace. She looked up at him, his bright green eyes intense, seeing right into her. She couldn't look away.

He moved his hand against her waist, snaking it around to her back and pulling her in as close as possible, fitting his body to hers so closely not even a whisper of air could pass between them. She could feel every movement of his muscles beneath her hands, and even though they were still fully clothed, to Sigyn it was outright erotic.

Overwhelmed, she took her hand from his and leaned into him, placing both of her arms around his body. She placed her cheek on his chest as they turned and swayed to the music. She felt him rest his head on hers, one hand on her waist holding her close as the other began to trace a slow path up her spine. She closed her eyes and allowed him to fill her senses, his smell a mixture of leather and dark forests and winter snow. The wine had long since worn off, but Sigyn still felt absolutely intoxicated.

A few more turns and the music stopped, their dance concluded, neither daring to loosen their embrace.

They stood like that for several moments, saying nothing. Sigyn could feel his heart beating solidly under her cheek, even through all the layers of his clothing. Her whole body hummed with need, and she hoped he couldn't feel how badly her hands were shaking on his back.

Suddenly, he lifted his head up. Placing his fingers under her chin, he raised her head, his eyes locked on hers. He looked as if he was searching for something in her face - honesty, affection...permission. Sigyn tried to project all of those things to him, her breath becoming more and more shallow in the effort.

Without a word, Loki reached up to her hair, making quick work of the pins that held it up, snapping his fingers after he removed each one to wink them out of existence. Freed from its bonds, her hair tumbled to her shoulders and around her face. She had never felt more beautiful in her life.

He cupped her head with his hand, his fingers in her hair and his thumb running over her lips. He took in a breath, as if he was about to speak, when he closed the distance and kissed her.

This kiss was completely different from the innocent one they had shared in the garden. It was more passionate, filled with all of the unspoken desire they had held in all evening. Loki gently pressed his thumb to her chin, sliding it down and around her neck as she happily opened her mouth to him. She could taste wine on his tongue, and she shuddered with delight.

Sigyn felt utterly weak in Loki's embrace, happy that his arms were around her to help her remain standing.

She broke from him for a moment, to catch her breath…and noticed the sky lightening in the distance. She had completely lost track of time, and dawn was breaking.

She gasped. "I need to get home, Loki. My brother - he must be worried."

"I will take you."

"I'm not sure-" she began, when he cut her off.

"Sigyn, I have no intention of this being our last night together. The sooner your brother knows the better," he said, impatience in his voice. "I will not be hidden away."

She drew in a deep breath. "You're right," she said. Sigyn knew she couldn't avoid Edmund forever. She also knew that he would never believe who she had been with if he didn't see for himself.

Her apartment was not far from the palace, easily within walking distance, but Loki arranged for a carriage to take them instead. Sigyn was pleased he had, as it allowed them to kiss the entire way there. She didn't think she would ever tire of it.

All too soon, the carriage arrived at her apartment. Loki followed her to the front door, where she turned to him one last time.

"Thank you for a most remarkable evening, Loki," she said. "I so enjoyed your company."

"And I yours," he replied, pulling her in for one last small kiss. "Oh! I almost forgot. I have something for you."

He held his hands out in front of his body, palm to palm. He rubbed his hands together quickly, and began to pull them apart. While Sigyn watched in amazement, a book began to appear between them. As soon as it was solid, Loki grasped the spine and held it out to her.

"Here," he said. "I thought you might like to finish reading this."

Sigyn took the book from him. She recognized it immediately as the latest one she had been secretly reading in the Queen's chambers.

"How - how did you -" she began.

"I saw you placing it on the shelf in my mother's room yesterday," he replied. "I told you I know more than you think, Sigyn. You seem to have a love of books as great as mine - I admire that about you."

She ran her fingers over the cover of the book. "Thank you, Loki. I promise to take great care of it and return it as soon as I'm done."

"You know, I have also have quite a collection in my chambers," he said. "Perhaps I can show you sometime soon."

Sigyn opened her mouth to reply, when the door to her apartment flew open, revealing Edmund, his face livid.

"Sigyn! Where in the Nine have you-" he began, his words dying in his throat at the sight before him. Sigyn..and Prince Loki.

"Your Highness!" said Edmund, bowing sharply. "Has my sister done something wrong?"

Before Loki could reply, Edmund turned to Sigyn. "What have you done? Did you steal that book?"

"The book was a gift from me," said Loki, his voice even. "Your sister was with me all night, and I can assure you, she has done nothing wrong."

"Is that true, Sigyn?" said Edmund, his tone disbelieving.

"Yes, Edmund," said Sigyn. "Are you questioning the prince?"

At that, Edmund was silent.

"We plan on spending quite a bit of time together," continued Loki, looking at Sigyn with a smile. "You can expect to see me more often, Edmund."

Loki took Sigyn's hand and pressed it to his lips. "I will see you soon, yes?"

Sigyn bowed her head to him, clutching the book to her chest. "Yes, yes of course." She turned and hurried into the apartment, avoiding Edmund's look as she passed.

Edmund turned to the prince. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not mean to assume..."

"Your sister is an extraordinary woman," said Loki. "You would do well to remember that." He began to walk back toward the carriage, turning back after a few steps. "By the way, I believe you left something at the palace last night."

Loki snapped his fingers, chuckling at the look on Edmund's face as rose petals began to materialize out of the air to fall at Edmund's feet.